Run for a cause and serenade your senses with music, art, photography and spooky events this October. Summer may be (sort of) over, but there’s still plenty of easy-breezy summer vibes to go around!
Exhibitions
Shop Cats of Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun Photography Exhibition
Until 16 October, 2023Mini Hotel, 38 Ice House Street, Central
Free entry
From lounging amid convenience store goods to pilfering dried seafood, Hong Kong’s shop cats are iconic. Celebrating the quirkiest and cutest of Hong Kong’s shop cats, catch photos by Instagram account @sheungwancats in Central.
Zheng Mahler at PHD Group
Until 25 November, 2023PHD Group, Wan Chai
Event page
Zheng Mahler is a collective formed by artist Royce Ng and anthropologist Daisy Bisenieks. The duo’s artwork has previously been showcased at galleries such as Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun, the Museum of Modern Art in Antwerp, Belgium, and Caixa Forum in Barcelona. This will be their first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, featuring new videos and installations in a multi-sensory environment.
Live Music and Performance
Chinese Opera Festival 2023
Until 8 October, 2023From HK$288.00
Event website
With a history spanning over ten centuries, Chinese opera is a traditional form of musical theater that has influenced numerous other forms of performing arts. It combines music, singing, acting, acrobatics, martial arts, and elaborate costumes and makeup to create visually striking performances enjoyed by all ages.
Here in Hong Kong, the 2023 edition of the Chinese Opera Festival will showcase different genres of traditional Chinese opera. The grand finale of the Festival will be a series of performances of traditional Cantonese Opera, which will take place at a large bamboo theatre constructed at Victoria Park. Not in the mood for theatre? Expect talks, meet-the-artists sessions, exhibitions and film screenings as well.
Freespace Jazz Fest 2023
3–8 October and 26 October 2023
Hong Kong’s annual jazz festival is back! Though the focus is on showcasing jazz artistry from around the world, this festival isn’t just about music: it also features DJ booths, an arts and crafts market, food and drinks, art installations, and family-friendly activities. It promises a diverse range of experiences for everyone to enjoy, making it a week filled with jazz and creativity.
Shi Fu Miz
27–29 October, 2023From HK$580.00
Once again, Shi Fu Miz returns to the picturesque island of Cheung Chau, nestled within the lush, expansive 11-acre Sai Yuen Camping Adventure Park. This year’s artist lineup boasts an eclectic mix, including Ani Phoebe, ANTAL, ESA, GIGI TESTA, SOICHI TERADA, and many other talented performers.
Promoting environmental consciousness, the festival is committed to a zero-plastic waste objective. Guests can also partake in enlightening eco-talks led by environmentalists, engage in beach cleanup sessions, and find tranquility through yoga practice. In a noteworthy 2023 initiative, the festival has joined forces with One Tree Planted to contribute to reforestation efforts.
Arts and Culture
Grassroots Future’s 3rd Birthday
4 October, 2023From HK$300.00
Registered charity Grassroots Future supports Hong Kong’s small but mighty refugee and asylum-seeker community. Celebrating its third year, the nonprofit is hosting a party to raise funds for its various initiatives.
| Advance sales: HK$300.00 | At the door: HK$300.00 | |
Jumping Frames – Hong Kong International Movement-image Festival 2023
Until 6 October, 2023From HK$85.00
Bringing together cinema and dance, Jumping Frames is a unique festival that showcases dance-related films and other media. The only festival of its kind in Asia, this year’s edition includes screenings, workshops, live performance and more.
Fine Art Asia 2023
5–8 October, 2023From HK$150.00; free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult with a ticket
This annual art fair showcases a wide range of artworks from both Asian and international galleries. Providing a platform for art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and the general public to explore and appreciate artworks spanning various genres and styles, this is one of the city’s best art events.
Festivals
National Day Fireworks 2023
1 October, 2023Free
Back after a five-year hiatus, fireworks will return to the Hong Kong skyline to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
India by the Bay Festival 2023
7–15 October, 2023India by the Bay is a vibrant week-long celebration of Indian arts and culture, co-presented by Teamwork Arts and the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, with support from the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong.
Aqua Luna Haunted Harbour Cruise
29–31 October, 2023From HK$400.00
Purchase tickets
Embark on an eerie adventure this Halloween aboard the Aqua Luna, as it morphs into a haunted vessel teeming with ghouls and pirates. For a Cheapo-approved price of HK$100.00, enjoy free-flow beverages, including cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, and juices.
Ocean Park Halloween Fest 2023
Until 31 October, 2023From HK$388.00
Purchase tickets
Brace for an adrenaline-pumping adventure at Ocean Park this Halloween. One highlight in this series of events is the School of Unending Horror, an immersive haunted experience that simulates a nightmarish school setting. This attraction takes visitors through various haunted elements within the confines of a spooky, abandoned school campus. Each section of the “school” is themed differently, offering a diverse range of spooky experiences and encounters with vengeful spirits, unexpected surprises, and unsettling mysteries.
Food and Beverage
World Sake Day 2023
Until 2 October, 2023From HK$70.00
Here in Hong Kong, sake is the drink of the moment. Sample a selection of the best sake from across Japan at PMQ, hosted by premier sake destination Sake Central.
Young Waiter Young Chef Competition
24 October, 2023The Young Waiter Young Chef Competition, with its origins in the United Kingdom, was first created to promote careers in hospitality. Landing in Hong Kong, this contest will spotlight local talent both in front of and behind the pass. The winning chef and waiter duo from each participating country will advance to the World Finals in Monaco, taking place on November 23-24.
Sports
Hunger Run 2023
15 October, 2023From HK$280.00
Step into the world of cha chaan teng, the city’s beloved teahouses, and race to combat hunger and food insecurity with the Hunger Run 2023. Hosted by local nonprofit organisation FoodSport Foundation, proceeds from the event will benefit underserved families and support the charity’s programming.
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